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Instrument Flight Rating (IFR)

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Total Program Length:

2–4 months (flexible scheduling available)

Total Flight Hours:

Minimum 40 hours actual or simulated (PCAR Part 61, Subpart G)

The Instrument Flight Rating (IFR) qualifies you to fly in cloud, low visibility, and instrument meteorological conditions — the environments that separate recreational pilots from true aviation professionals. Built on your existing PPL or CPL foundation, this CAAP-approved rating trains you to navigate Philippine airways, execute precision approaches, and manage the cockpit with discipline when the horizon disappears. If you are serious about an airline career, this rating is not optional.

Program Structure

A. Ground School (50 Hours)

IFR Theory & Instrument Systems

  • Gyroscopic instruments, pitot-static systems, and error analysis
  • Aircraft performance in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)
  • Spatial disorientation — recognition, prevention, and recovery

Air Law & IFR Regulations

  • PCAR Part 91 IFR operating rules and minima
  • Philippine ATC IFR clearances, separation, and holding procedures

Airways Navigation & Approach Procedures

  • VOR, NDB, ILS, and RNAV approach plate reading and execution
  • Departure and arrival procedures, SIDs, STARs, and en-route airways navigation

Flight Safety & Emergency Procedures

  • Partial panel flying and instrument failure management
  • Missed approach procedures, alternates, and fuel planning under IFR

Radio Communication

  • IFR-specific ATC phraseology — clearances, readbacks, and position reports
  • Lost communications procedures under IFR

B. Flight Training

Pre-Flight Preparation

IFR flight plan filing, weather analysis, alternate selection, and instrument check procedures

Basic Instrument Maneuvers

Straight and level, timed turns, climbs and descents solely by reference to instruments

Advanced Instrument Maneuvers

Unusual attitude recovery under the hood, partial panel tracking, and holding pattern entries

Airways Navigation

En-route IFR navigation on VOR airways across Philippine controlled airspace

Approach Procedures

Full ILS, VOR, NDB, and RNAV approach training — including circling and straight-in to published minima

Simulator Training

Up to 20 hours of instrument time on our CAAP-approved FNPT II — building scan technique and procedure fluency before flying in actual IMC

Program Benefits

  • CAAP Instrument Rating endorsed on your existing PPL or CPL
  • Up to 20 hours of instrument time logged on our CAAP-approved FNPT II simulator
  • Training in actual IMC where Philippine weather permits — not just simulated conditions
  • Assigned CAAP-certified instrument flight instructor (CFII) from day one
  • Essential prerequisite for airline cadet programmes and CPL pathway completion

Assessments

  • CAAP Instrument Rating Airmen Knowledge Test — covering IFR procedures, navigation, weather, and air law
  • Practical Flight Test (Checkride): Conducted with a CAAP-authorised examiner — includes partial panel, holds, and full approach sequences
  • Oral Examination: Covers IFR regulations, approach plate interpretation, weather minima, and emergency procedures

Entry Requirements

  • Hold a valid CAAP Private Pilot Licence (PPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
  • Minimum 50 hours cross-country PIC flight time
  • Able to read, speak, and understand English proficiently
  • Hold a valid CAAP Class 2 (PPL holders) or Class 1 (CPL holders) Medical Certificate issued by a CAAP-accredited Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
Juan Paolo Reyes First Officer, Cebu Pacific Air

"Skyborn gave me more than a licence — it gave me a real career. The structured training, the quality of instruction, and the professionalism at every step prepared me for the demands of commercial aviation. I am now a First Officer, and I owe that foundation entirely to this academy."

Maria Kristina Valdez Cadet Pilot, Philippine Airlines

"I came to Skyborn with nothing but a dream of flying. The instructors never let me settle for average — every lesson, every checkride preparation, every simulator session pushed me to be sharper and more precise. I completed my CPL in the timeline they promised, and I started my airline career within months of graduation. This academy is the real deal."

Capt. Andrei Santos Check Captain, AirAsia Philippines

"What sets Skyborn apart is the standard they hold you to from day one. The ground school is thorough, the flight training is methodical, and the instructors genuinely invest in your progress. My instrument rating training here gave me a level of cockpit confidence I could not have built anywhere else. If you are serious about a professional flying career, this is where you train."

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